The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-24


the old hood under her chin. Mrs. Martin
rose hastily from the one small window,
where she had been straining her eyes to
finish some oewing by the fading daylight,
and put two sticks Of wood in the broken
stove, that was quite marvellous to look at
when there was good-3ized fire burning
In It. It was so covered with large queer
shaped cracks that II looked like an illu-
minated map OF some strange country.
Mrs. Martin moved the tea-kettle forward
upon the principal continent on the map,
and turned, with smile. to welcome her
M..le daughter.
"Cold, my little girl" she said, as she
united the ragged hood. She must have
found the frozen tears; for shade OF ap-
prehension crossed her pale face, and she
asked, hurriedly: "Did you find Mrs.
Greene at home!"
Eyes, mother Here is the money; and
she said she would have good deal of
work this spring; and as you did this so
nicely, you should have it all, il you had
time"
"Thank God!" said Mrs. Martin, CRATE
fully, kissing Allies cheek. "But why
these tears' With this money I shall be
able to buy you warm dress and cloak Of
some kind. 1 saw one yesterday that was
| only three dollars"
"Oh! mother" sobbed Allie, putting her
| arms around her mothers waist and press
| ing her face against her bosom. II never
| want to sec Mr.. Mason again. He's cruel
| wicked man."
"Why, why, Alliew exclaimed Mrs
Martin, very much surprised. What do
| you meant"
II found out to-day why we have such
hard times" said Allie. "IJ's all because
OF Lent. wish he had never told us about
it."
| Mrs. Martin thought, for q moment, her
little daughter must be out Of her head !;
but taking her on her lap, she placed the
| little cold feet on the hearth Of the ricketty
stove, and, by skillful questions, soon had
the whole history of the afternoon.
"They had such beautiful dresses, and
she had muff and flowers. Oh! mother
pink roses! like we used to have over the
porch at home! Don't you remember
mother!'
'Yes, dear" Mrs. Martin remembered
very well, indeed.
"And they were going to party tonight,
and it's all got to be spoilt Oh! why does
Lent have to come to people, mother!"
At first Mrs. Martin could not account for
Allies familiarity with the word "Lent"
but she soon recalled the last visit from,
Mr.. Mason, q jealous churchman, and the
emphasis he laid upon her observance OF
the fast. He had dwelt much upon the
blessedness to be derived from it. and now
she remembered that Allie had been pres
ent, and, as it appeared, had been an at
tentive listener.
By the time Allie was thoroughly warmed
through, Mrs. Martin had hushed her grief
by the promise to tell her something about
.nv,tf hat a.
pier, after they had their tea.
$50 my little girl thinks we are keeping
Lent by living in these cold rooms, and wear
ing such old clothes" said Mrs. Martin, as
latter in the evening" she took Allie on hel
lap, after she was ready for bed She was
well wrapped up in an old shawl Of hel
mothers, that kept off all the little chilly
airs that lived in the corners of the room
and sat all day on the window SILL and, ir
fact, hovercd pretty well all around the
room except directly over the little cracked
stove, and she was happy in the prospect o.
quiet rock and talk with her mother.
, Mrs. Martin told, in q simple way, how
Lent had prevailed for years in the Romist
and Episcopal Churches, and how society.
fashionable observance Of the fast differed
from the self-denying spirit that leads SC
, many good persons to give up some pet in
dulgence and abstain from all gayety fol
that one period Of the year. II Allie did
not comprehend all her mother said, she
understood enough to known that the pinch
ing poverty Of the last few years of theil
lives had not been brought about by Mr.
Mason or his teachings. and the kind-heartet
man was restored to his place in her affec
tions.
Mrs Martin hold Allie in her arms lonl
| In anHt thn v,.l Ron
her thoughts went back, as they did many
times each day of her life to the home
where Allie was born. She saw the little
porch, with its festoons Of climbing roses
from which the wind scattered shower o1
. pink snow upon the little lawn with its car
pet Of white clover, the playground of little
Allie, and the child herself reaching tc
pluck the red, white and pink hollyhocks
down by the gate, just as she looked tha,
morning. Allies father had been away
some months on long journey, and wa.
then expected home, and Allie could hard
ly be kept away from the gate, where she
, was 'waiting for papa" long enough to ca,
her meals. She seemed to see the gate
open and the kind neighbor como up the
: walk, and, after a few words Of preparation
give her the paper where the name of John
Martin appeared on the list of those killed
, | ny tcrTlOlC railway 8CClu0uJ. linen IOl
lowed the sad weeks when the pretty home
, and all it contained was sold for debt, and
Allies mother found herself with only 9
few hundred dollars in the world, and ne
one to turn to for help, except an amt Of
her husband, who lived IN distant Eastern
city. To her great joy, this aunt wrote fol
! her to bring Allie and come to her, and she
would put her in way to support herself
1t was long journey, and, when the trav
elers reached the home that had beer
opened to them, it was to find the kind ole
aunt on her death bed, speechless and un
conscious. OF the years that followed
Mrs. Martin did not think much that night
they were very much alike, and very, yer,
hard; but she had her little daughter tl
work for, and, as she laid her on the hare
bed, she prayed that she might always bt
kept as pure and good as she was then. L
was very cold that night in the two little
rooms that Allie and her mother called
"home." The old cracked stove was darl
, and cold, and the little, chilly airs had ev
cry thing their own way, and, finding them
selves masters of the situation, immediatel,
let in any number Of other little airs tha
were much colder than they; and they
danced and played all about the room o.
such q rate that they woke up Mrs. Martin
! ''How cold it is," she thought. ~ hop,
Allie does not feel it as do"
No. indeed. Allie was very warm; to,
| warm Door Mrs Martin soon found All,